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Phoenix police officers found a man who had been shot several times when they responded to a “shots fired” call just before midnight on Saturday night near 61st Avenue and Thomas Road, . The injured man was transported to a hospital with non life-threatening wounds and investigators soon learned that the man had been involved in two earlier armed robberies in the area. During the first robbery the suspect and two accomplices robbed three men at gunpoint and took a wallet, phones, jewelry. Fifteen minutes later during the second incident, the suspects robbed another teen at gunpoint, stole his iPod and then hit him in the back of the head.
The teen that was victimized in the second robbery notified his family of the incident. His father went to the area of the crime and confronted the three suspects. Two of the suspects were armed and pointed their weapons at the teen's father who pulled out his own handgun and fired at them. A running gun battle along 61st Avenue and Thomas ensued. Phoenix police responded and found one of the suspects who had been shot. As he was transported to a hospital they learned he was in possession of one victim’s gold chain and cell phone. When the other two suspects were found, they were in possession of a victim’s bracelet and the teen’s iPod.
Two suspects, Angel Torres and Michael R. Torres, both 19, were booked into jail for armed robbery. The third suspect, Ruben Torres, 18, will also be booked for his participation in the two armed robberies when he is released from the hospital. The teen victim’s father was interviewed by police and released pending a review of the case.